The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the Electronic Register of Voters for the Osun State governorship election scheduled for August 15, 2026, revealing that 2,339,233 registered voters are eligible to participate in the election. The announcement was made by Osun State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oluwatoyin Babalola, during a formal presentation in Osogbo on Thursday. The release of the voter register marks a key step in the commission’s preparations, aimed at ensuring transparency, inclusiveness, and credibility in the electoral process.
Babalola emphasized that the presentation of the electronic register aligns with Sections 19 and 20 of the Electoral Act 2026 (as amended), which require INEC to compile, update, and make available the register to political parties within the prescribed timeframe before elections. She stated that the register will allow political parties to review eligible voters across the state, plan their campaigns strategically, and engage the electorate in a lawful and meaningful way.
She urged political parties to use the register responsibly to promote voter education, encourage civic participation, and boost voter turnout on election day. However, Babalola issued a stern warning against any misuse of the register for electoral malpractice, including vote-buying, voter inducement, or intimidation. “The Register of Voters must never be used as an instrument to perpetuate vote buying, voter inducement, intimidation, or any other form of electoral malpractice,” she said.
Babalola stressed that elections should be contests of ideas and development visions, not competitions based on bribes or coercion. She reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible, inclusive, and transparent governorship election in Osun State. The commission has been putting in place necessary administrative, operational, technological, and logistical arrangements to ensure the election runs smoothly.
She called on political parties, candidates, supporters, and residents of Osun State to remain peaceful, law-abiding, and cooperative throughout the electoral process. Babalola highlighted that credible elections require the collective support of political parties, security agencies, the media, civil society organizations, election observers, and the electorate. She urged all stakeholders to reject violence, hate speech, misinformation, and any act that could undermine the election’s integrity.
The INEC boss thanked political parties and other stakeholders for maintaining a peaceful political environment in the state and formally handed over the Electronic Register of Voters to the parties. She expressed confidence that continued cooperation among stakeholders will strengthen the credibility of the August 15 governorship election. The release of the register sets the stage for a more informed and participatory electoral process in Osun State.
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